Friday, July 10, 2015

Have you met Aurélio?

Aurélio is 3 years old and
he is one of our 32 children attending the SLM HIV Day Centre. Since he’s
still not in school, Aurélio spends his days at the Day Centre doing what
he knows best – being a child.

At 7h he and other
children arrive at the Centre, where they are welcomed by Sister Sidónia. While
he waits for breakfast time, after taking his medication, Aurélio plays in the
Centre’s playground with the other children; they love the swings! After eating
it is time for some activities and crafts, while they all take their daily
shower in turns. At 12h they have lunch: chicken with rice, or rice with beans,
chima, pasta and sausage, always with fresh greens from the Day Care
Centre farming plot. After lunch it is time to rest to charge up their
batteries. In the afternoon, Aurélio and the other Day Care children play a bit
more and the ones attending school use this time to do their homework, always
relying on the help of Sister Sidónia or Atija. There have storytelling,
instrument’s playing, drawing and puzzles. During snack time they all have
bread, yogurt, baby food or cakes baked by the technical courses’ students,
then they resume their activities. After dinner Aurélio and the other Day Care
children return home, to their families, and prepare to come back the next day.

At the SLM HIV Day Care
Centre, every child is special and all of them receive the care and love they
need to grow in a happy and dignified environment.